We're in the support raising process to get to the mission field, and it is definitely moving forward. Our staff rep at Food for the Hungry said it so well in regards to following God's Call...he said it was like stepping on a conveyor belt and off you go! It's soooo true. Speaking engagements keep coming our way as well as individual meetings and help with fund raisers. Right now the conveyor belt is moving a little slower because of the holidays, but we needed the rest after several busy months. Our path is not always easy, in fact it is often down right challenging, so we thank you for your prayers for strength as the enemy occasionally brings predictable opposition, and as God brings us through the Refiner's Fire.
This period of waiting on God is truly a "Kingdom of God" process. We belong to a home church that, while dedicated to its denomination, seeks to unite its community in Christian love through programs like Kids Kamp and a Thanksgiving community service where local churches of multiple denominations come together in worship and outreach. Now, having been led to a non-denominational Christian organization, we get to enjoy the fellowship and worship of many denominations through the support raising process as well as through the very church we serve. So far this ministry is being supported by five churches of three entirely different denominations, not to mention the multiple denominations of the individuals on this support team. His Kingdom Come!
We expected to be leaving for the field in just two weeks, but the folks at Food for the Hungry told us in the beginning that it could take 18 months to raise support, and it's only been 11. So we're still raising funds. We realize this has been a long process, yet many people have already been giving on a monthly basis since last winter. We are inspired by the faith these people have in what God has for this ministry. God has blessed us with enormous peace about getting to the field and serving Him through such support.
There is, of course, an element of the unknown in this leap of faith. Honestly, we have no idea to what extent God wants to use us, but the vision we have is big, and goes beyond Justin's job description, and I find peace in Him and His track record in our lives thus far. There are certain things God knew we needed solidified for us as we prayed for His guidance in where to serve Him. He led us to Food for the Hungry's ministry in Lima (an established missions program), He healed our children of asthma and reflux, and now we're trusting Him to raise the funds to get us where He wants us. While we know Justin's job description in Lima and who he will be working with, we don't know what our daily lives will be like, where we will worship, or how God will use us as a family along with the ministry in the field. These are things we trust the Lord to provide, and we expect great things. As Christ said to Thomas: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29. I believe, Father, that you want to use us in Lima, Peru. I have no idea for how long, or to what extent, but I am willing to step in and find out.
In Christ,
Gillian
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Monday, October 10, 2005
The Winds of Change are Upon Us
They're looking for Justin's replacement at work.
I'm trying my best to disect my feelings about this, but it's tough. I feel so many different things about this. I feel excited to get a little closer to moving to Peru. I feel productive because finally something big is happening. I feel scared, like I want to say, "Hey, wait! We still need this job!" I feel Justin's loss and grief over a job that he loves. I feel pensive and prayerful, "Okay, God, this next phase in our lives is totally in your hands. We know we'll come out blessed, but the process seems so hard."
We need a great deal more financial and prayer support before we can get to the field, and the numbers seem huge. But other families have done this before us. They've raised the support against all odds, and God has blessed their ministries for their faithfulness. So here I stand, my hands wide open to You, saying, "Father use me. Build me up to serve you better. Give me comfort as I wait on your timing. As I experience growing pains, and ache to serve your people like I've never done before. As the burden to uproot and move to Peru grows, as my apprehension and fear of rasing support ebbs and flows, and as my heart seeks YOU at all times for guidance, assurance, and resolution, hold me. Guide me through your Word. Prepare my heart for the journey.
I thank you for this hard journey. You're showing me so much about who you are, and what it means to totally give up everything for you. But Father, it's called the Refiner's Fire for a reason. It's HARD. It's uncomfortable at times. But when I look at my husband and children and feel utterly rich, I know you are there, and all is RIGHT and GOOD."
Thank you, friends, for your prayer and petitions for us. We feel so bonded to you through faith. Prayer works! And we will get to the field very soon with everyone joining together in petition for the great commission! We in turn, are praying blessings for you. That being involved in this ministry to Peru would be an encouragement to you about the power of prayer to change the world.
In Faith,
Gillian
I'm trying my best to disect my feelings about this, but it's tough. I feel so many different things about this. I feel excited to get a little closer to moving to Peru. I feel productive because finally something big is happening. I feel scared, like I want to say, "Hey, wait! We still need this job!" I feel Justin's loss and grief over a job that he loves. I feel pensive and prayerful, "Okay, God, this next phase in our lives is totally in your hands. We know we'll come out blessed, but the process seems so hard."
We need a great deal more financial and prayer support before we can get to the field, and the numbers seem huge. But other families have done this before us. They've raised the support against all odds, and God has blessed their ministries for their faithfulness. So here I stand, my hands wide open to You, saying, "Father use me. Build me up to serve you better. Give me comfort as I wait on your timing. As I experience growing pains, and ache to serve your people like I've never done before. As the burden to uproot and move to Peru grows, as my apprehension and fear of rasing support ebbs and flows, and as my heart seeks YOU at all times for guidance, assurance, and resolution, hold me. Guide me through your Word. Prepare my heart for the journey.
I thank you for this hard journey. You're showing me so much about who you are, and what it means to totally give up everything for you. But Father, it's called the Refiner's Fire for a reason. It's HARD. It's uncomfortable at times. But when I look at my husband and children and feel utterly rich, I know you are there, and all is RIGHT and GOOD."
Thank you, friends, for your prayer and petitions for us. We feel so bonded to you through faith. Prayer works! And we will get to the field very soon with everyone joining together in petition for the great commission! We in turn, are praying blessings for you. That being involved in this ministry to Peru would be an encouragement to you about the power of prayer to change the world.
In Faith,
Gillian
Monday, October 03, 2005
Back in the Saddle Again
After a summer filled with travel and house projects, we're back in the saddle of active support raising...or support praying. We've started making some phone calls and setting up fund raisers, but the biggest blessings have come through no act of our own. Yesterday our church hosted a homecoming service and invited past pastors and former members to come and celebrate what God has done through our church. Through this service God brought us together with two pastors who have now put us on their calendars to present to their churches. A third church has asked for more information, and a friend said they increased their monthly commitment. Also, a lovely member of our church who has several active family members in our church, passed away yesterday, and the family has asked that memorials be given to Ebenezer for Food for the Hungry missions. We are greatly humbled by this gesture, and our hearts go out to Ms. Winnie's family in their grief.
In light of all these things, two words are swimming through my mind- Humility and Encouragement. Our lives are filled with untitled missionaries who have led many to Christ, who have brought comfort to the "least of these" and intercession for the desperate. There are so many people who have demonstrated a life of service and selflessness, and I want to say thank you for all you do. I wish I could pin a rose on your chest and hold a special service for all of you who serve without an official title or a pulpit to speak from. Friends, thank you for your faith in God and what He can do through us in Peru, and we return this confidence with prayer for you in your home mission field. We treasure you more than words can express. My tears over the awesomeness of His grace through you can only be counted by God Himself.
Thank you,
Gillian
In light of all these things, two words are swimming through my mind- Humility and Encouragement. Our lives are filled with untitled missionaries who have led many to Christ, who have brought comfort to the "least of these" and intercession for the desperate. There are so many people who have demonstrated a life of service and selflessness, and I want to say thank you for all you do. I wish I could pin a rose on your chest and hold a special service for all of you who serve without an official title or a pulpit to speak from. Friends, thank you for your faith in God and what He can do through us in Peru, and we return this confidence with prayer for you in your home mission field. We treasure you more than words can express. My tears over the awesomeness of His grace through you can only be counted by God Himself.
Thank you,
Gillian
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Ahh, the joys of international travel!
So, it is 3:30 in the morning. We have been back in the US since Sunday morning and this is the third night in a row that we have had family pow wows at the wee hours of morning. Sunday night we were all up from about 1 in the morning until about 5. Monday night we were up from 2 until 4 and then forced ourselves back to bed. This morning we are all wide awake at 3. Jet lag is the best!
Monday, August 29, 2005
2nd Email to Dad, Hi from Thailand
Subject: RE: Hi From Thailand
Hi, Dad, I think the State Fair sounds lovely. I imagine the weather is getting cooler now? It was so great to be in MN over the summer. It's easy to forget how beatiful and rich it is up there. Man, that seems forever ago. We're back in Bangkok now after spending a week in Khao Lak. We just have three more full days of sessions, and Friday morning we're visiting the main office before people start to depart. On Saturday morning we Americans (Farong as they so lovingly call us here, much like the connotation of Gringos) will depart. I can't wait to get home. This trip in total is just two days shy of four weeks. Right now it feels like a lifetime.
I heard today that there's a hurricane headed for New Orleans...the worst we've seen in a while?? I'm going to get on MSN after I'm done here to get caught up. Justin and I had a small date night tonight while some fellow-trainees watched the kids at the dorm. It was nice to get out togther and talk over some of the things we've been learning and experiencing. Taking taxis here is a real experience since Justin and I have never been in an environment where we don't speak the language AT ALL. We have a map to get back to our dorm, but Thai's don't read maps. All we can do is say the street name and point to our translator's cell phone number:). Tonight we were close enough to the dorm to just point our way back, but Justin still tried to throw in some Spanish, clinging to the only foreign language he knows :). It was great fun. The driving here is on the left-hand side of the road, the taxis are nice and almost new-looking. They even drive somewhat in the lines (as opposed to South America where you're lucky if the doors really shut tight and the lines mean nothing).
Here's a funny story: Today our housekeeper dried our clothes on the front porch to keep them out of the rain and I had forgotten to take my unmentionables out to wash by hand. I came home to my personals flying in the wind for the whole world to see...it was very funny. I quick snatched them down and ran them inside. Hmmm, any more funny stories from the field? Oh, here's one that's interesting, but not funny. We visited some tsunami areas that FHI works in, and one of the girls in our group ventured across a muddy beach to get some pictures of a damaged house and met a family that still lives there! Those of us in sandals couldn't make it across the muddy beach, so we hiked through the tropical forest of Thailand to get to this house (thankfully the boys were back at the hotel with babysitters or we couldn't have done this). The family told us about a grove of trees that the towns people had asked them to cut down across the river, but the grandfather had refused. That grove of trees is what blocked the tsunami from directly hitting their house and it bought them time to get away. After the tsunami passed, the family returned to their house and saved around a dozen random people from the river. They lost one thatch house in the tsunami, along with their peir and tour-boats they made their living from, but their main house and one of their boats survived. The hotels are trying to get re-opened by November (the high tourist season), so the family is hopeful for the tourism industry to pick up again so they can start making money again. That was an incredible experience.
The next day, in the name of being tourists, our family and some other trainees went on an elephant ride! K, so it wasn't the regulated animal safety experience we have at the circus, so we were a little nervous as we got started, but it turned out to be quite an adventure. The elephant ride lasted an HOUR. We had three elephants with three people per animal and we went on a slow hike through the forest. The boys loved it. Alex and I were on the smallest elephant, and our seat that we shared with a friend only had a 5-inch high back on it, and it's a bench seat with the three of us facing forward side-by-side. We went up and down a really steep hill, so we had to work to stay upright with no back on the bench. It really was an adventure to remember. My friend and I were laughing the whole time, but it was one of those nervous, "is this worth it" laughs :). It was really awesome to watch the trainers work with the elephants. They talked to them like they're the family dog and the elephants responded! They were gentle things. We walked in a train of three elephants, and at one point a friend on the second elephant with Justin and Nathan dropped his camera. The trainer on the third elephant (the oldest one) said something to the animal and he picked up the camera with his trunk and handed it to the trainer!!!! The trainer dusted it off, rode up next to Justin's elephant and handed them the camera unharmed! It was way cool to watch. All our young elephant did was pass gas, schnoze on our feet, and eat when it was supposed to be walking!! :). It was awesome, but I was totally sore from trying to sit upright. The other two bench seats that Justin and the others rode had backs on them, so their ride was less of a work out :). K, I must go to bed. I'm leading our Bible study in the morning. I can't wait to send you the pictures!!
Love,
Gillian
Hi, Dad, I think the State Fair sounds lovely. I imagine the weather is getting cooler now? It was so great to be in MN over the summer. It's easy to forget how beatiful and rich it is up there. Man, that seems forever ago. We're back in Bangkok now after spending a week in Khao Lak. We just have three more full days of sessions, and Friday morning we're visiting the main office before people start to depart. On Saturday morning we Americans (Farong as they so lovingly call us here, much like the connotation of Gringos) will depart. I can't wait to get home. This trip in total is just two days shy of four weeks. Right now it feels like a lifetime.
I heard today that there's a hurricane headed for New Orleans...the worst we've seen in a while?? I'm going to get on MSN after I'm done here to get caught up. Justin and I had a small date night tonight while some fellow-trainees watched the kids at the dorm. It was nice to get out togther and talk over some of the things we've been learning and experiencing. Taking taxis here is a real experience since Justin and I have never been in an environment where we don't speak the language AT ALL. We have a map to get back to our dorm, but Thai's don't read maps. All we can do is say the street name and point to our translator's cell phone number:). Tonight we were close enough to the dorm to just point our way back, but Justin still tried to throw in some Spanish, clinging to the only foreign language he knows :). It was great fun. The driving here is on the left-hand side of the road, the taxis are nice and almost new-looking. They even drive somewhat in the lines (as opposed to South America where you're lucky if the doors really shut tight and the lines mean nothing).
Here's a funny story: Today our housekeeper dried our clothes on the front porch to keep them out of the rain and I had forgotten to take my unmentionables out to wash by hand. I came home to my personals flying in the wind for the whole world to see...it was very funny. I quick snatched them down and ran them inside. Hmmm, any more funny stories from the field? Oh, here's one that's interesting, but not funny. We visited some tsunami areas that FHI works in, and one of the girls in our group ventured across a muddy beach to get some pictures of a damaged house and met a family that still lives there! Those of us in sandals couldn't make it across the muddy beach, so we hiked through the tropical forest of Thailand to get to this house (thankfully the boys were back at the hotel with babysitters or we couldn't have done this). The family told us about a grove of trees that the towns people had asked them to cut down across the river, but the grandfather had refused. That grove of trees is what blocked the tsunami from directly hitting their house and it bought them time to get away. After the tsunami passed, the family returned to their house and saved around a dozen random people from the river. They lost one thatch house in the tsunami, along with their peir and tour-boats they made their living from, but their main house and one of their boats survived. The hotels are trying to get re-opened by November (the high tourist season), so the family is hopeful for the tourism industry to pick up again so they can start making money again. That was an incredible experience.
The next day, in the name of being tourists, our family and some other trainees went on an elephant ride! K, so it wasn't the regulated animal safety experience we have at the circus, so we were a little nervous as we got started, but it turned out to be quite an adventure. The elephant ride lasted an HOUR. We had three elephants with three people per animal and we went on a slow hike through the forest. The boys loved it. Alex and I were on the smallest elephant, and our seat that we shared with a friend only had a 5-inch high back on it, and it's a bench seat with the three of us facing forward side-by-side. We went up and down a really steep hill, so we had to work to stay upright with no back on the bench. It really was an adventure to remember. My friend and I were laughing the whole time, but it was one of those nervous, "is this worth it" laughs :). It was really awesome to watch the trainers work with the elephants. They talked to them like they're the family dog and the elephants responded! They were gentle things. We walked in a train of three elephants, and at one point a friend on the second elephant with Justin and Nathan dropped his camera. The trainer on the third elephant (the oldest one) said something to the animal and he picked up the camera with his trunk and handed it to the trainer!!!! The trainer dusted it off, rode up next to Justin's elephant and handed them the camera unharmed! It was way cool to watch. All our young elephant did was pass gas, schnoze on our feet, and eat when it was supposed to be walking!! :). It was awesome, but I was totally sore from trying to sit upright. The other two bench seats that Justin and the others rode had backs on them, so their ride was less of a work out :). K, I must go to bed. I'm leading our Bible study in the morning. I can't wait to send you the pictures!!
Love,
Gillian
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Email to Dad, Hi From Thailand
Subject: Hi From Thailand
Dad, it's so great to finally connect with you. I haven't taken a whole lot of time for email myself, but Justin, being the enthusiast he is, checks it pretty faithfully. So, yeah, we're in Thailand, can you believe it? Last week was a little crazy getting adjusted and whatnot. Nathan has managed to keep monster bruises on his head as evidence of his boldness...today he took two hits, one on the stairs he was running down to get away from me (he tripped and hit is cheek bone on a potted plant), and the other time was on our tour bus this morning on our way to a session. He was trying to keep up with the big boys and scooted off the seat super fast, missed the step under the seat, and smacked down on the aisle. All this just as the monster bruise across the bridge of his nose cleared up (the boys were playing with the other two children outside at the dorms in Bangkok and Josiah (a 4 year-old) was pushing Nathan in a stroller. They collided with the front gate sending Nathan face-first into it. This was the day before we decided four children 4 and under were too much for our sweet babysitter. The clincher was when we came back to the dorm and found Nathan shut outside by himself, and the babysitter inside bringing Alex and Josiah downstairs...the boys had run upstairs during a game of chase and locked themselves into our room. The babysitter was absolutely frazzled. We parents have been sharing helper duties since then. All this week, though, we've only had to help out a couple of times because they found a second sitter...YAY! The first sitter is WONDERFUL and the kids love her, but they get a little too wild, you know?
So, despite the childcare situation, and some stressful moments in travel, the sessions are going really well. Last week we were in a dorm attached to a Christian school. Our family had our own room, and shared a bathroom with the other family. We had training in a classroom at the school and the boys spent the morning in the school's 2-3 year-old class...THEY LOVE IT!! They have a ball pit and slides, and lots of toys. After lunch we'd go back to the training room before everyone else and put the boys down for a nap on the floor (we'd bring a pillow and blanket for the floor). Then they'd sleep on the floor in the middle of our circle of other trainees for like 2-3 hours every day!! When they woke up we'd take them to the sitter at the dorm and they'd play with Josiah and Asia (age 2) until 5pm when we'd go to dinner. We've been learning a ton about flexibility in parenting.
So our sessions have been great. We have has several great speakers. This week we're in a town called Khao Lak and we're staying in a beach-front resort. I feel sooo pampered. We have a huge room with a humungous balcony overlooking the Andaman Sea. Aside from being told how to handle a Tsunami warning, we feel totally refreshed here :). This resort is on a high hill, so it's still okay, but their bungalows down below are being rebuilt. We can hear the construction all day long mingled with the calming flow of the sea. All reminders of the tsunami from December 26 of last year.
Yesterday we visited some homes of tsunami survivors. We took a picture of a boat that was 2 Kilometers inland in someone's yard. Crazy. There's police boat lying ghostly vacant off the main highway here, it was the boat that was to be guarding the king's grandson, but the grandson's body was found just beyond the boat after the tsunami. It's a lot to take in. Today we visited a place called "The Well" set up by a coalition called We Love Thailand. Food for the Hungry is a participant in this coalition. The Well is a counseling center for tsunami victims and volunteers. We learned a lot about counseling and managing our own traumas on the field. K, I have to go back to session now. Our afternoon break is over. I have to say, though, many times through out this trip I have stood in awe of what God is doing in our lives, and how awesome it is to be seeing the world in such a personal way. I am soooo hopeful that you will be able to visit us in Peru so you can see what our lives have been filled with. I love you, and I can't wait to see you in a few weeks!
Love,
Gillian
Dad, it's so great to finally connect with you. I haven't taken a whole lot of time for email myself, but Justin, being the enthusiast he is, checks it pretty faithfully. So, yeah, we're in Thailand, can you believe it? Last week was a little crazy getting adjusted and whatnot. Nathan has managed to keep monster bruises on his head as evidence of his boldness...today he took two hits, one on the stairs he was running down to get away from me (he tripped and hit is cheek bone on a potted plant), and the other time was on our tour bus this morning on our way to a session. He was trying to keep up with the big boys and scooted off the seat super fast, missed the step under the seat, and smacked down on the aisle. All this just as the monster bruise across the bridge of his nose cleared up (the boys were playing with the other two children outside at the dorms in Bangkok and Josiah (a 4 year-old) was pushing Nathan in a stroller. They collided with the front gate sending Nathan face-first into it. This was the day before we decided four children 4 and under were too much for our sweet babysitter. The clincher was when we came back to the dorm and found Nathan shut outside by himself, and the babysitter inside bringing Alex and Josiah downstairs...the boys had run upstairs during a game of chase and locked themselves into our room. The babysitter was absolutely frazzled. We parents have been sharing helper duties since then. All this week, though, we've only had to help out a couple of times because they found a second sitter...YAY! The first sitter is WONDERFUL and the kids love her, but they get a little too wild, you know?
So, despite the childcare situation, and some stressful moments in travel, the sessions are going really well. Last week we were in a dorm attached to a Christian school. Our family had our own room, and shared a bathroom with the other family. We had training in a classroom at the school and the boys spent the morning in the school's 2-3 year-old class...THEY LOVE IT!! They have a ball pit and slides, and lots of toys. After lunch we'd go back to the training room before everyone else and put the boys down for a nap on the floor (we'd bring a pillow and blanket for the floor). Then they'd sleep on the floor in the middle of our circle of other trainees for like 2-3 hours every day!! When they woke up we'd take them to the sitter at the dorm and they'd play with Josiah and Asia (age 2) until 5pm when we'd go to dinner. We've been learning a ton about flexibility in parenting.
So our sessions have been great. We have has several great speakers. This week we're in a town called Khao Lak and we're staying in a beach-front resort. I feel sooo pampered. We have a huge room with a humungous balcony overlooking the Andaman Sea. Aside from being told how to handle a Tsunami warning, we feel totally refreshed here :). This resort is on a high hill, so it's still okay, but their bungalows down below are being rebuilt. We can hear the construction all day long mingled with the calming flow of the sea. All reminders of the tsunami from December 26 of last year.
Yesterday we visited some homes of tsunami survivors. We took a picture of a boat that was 2 Kilometers inland in someone's yard. Crazy. There's police boat lying ghostly vacant off the main highway here, it was the boat that was to be guarding the king's grandson, but the grandson's body was found just beyond the boat after the tsunami. It's a lot to take in. Today we visited a place called "The Well" set up by a coalition called We Love Thailand. Food for the Hungry is a participant in this coalition. The Well is a counseling center for tsunami victims and volunteers. We learned a lot about counseling and managing our own traumas on the field. K, I have to go back to session now. Our afternoon break is over. I have to say, though, many times through out this trip I have stood in awe of what God is doing in our lives, and how awesome it is to be seeing the world in such a personal way. I am soooo hopeful that you will be able to visit us in Peru so you can see what our lives have been filled with. I love you, and I can't wait to see you in a few weeks!
Love,
Gillian
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Message from the bus
So right now, we are on a bus going from Bangkok, Thailand to Pang Nga, Thailand. We left at 7:30 p.m. and it is a 12 hour bus trip so we will be pulling into our destination well after the sun is up. The purpose of this trip is to show us some of the FHI relief projects that are going on in response to the tsunami. So far the trip has gone well. Nathan and Alex are both out cold. Gillian is reading a novel and I am listening to music on my MP3 player. I suspect we will go to bed in a couple of hours, but who knows. It is at times like this when I wish I had brought my new laptop so I could watch a movie or something. At least I can write an e-mail while on the bus. This trip has had its surreal moments. It is strange to think that I am on the other side of the world from home. For you guys on the East Coast it is only 10 in the morning. And our day is wrapping up.
The boys are doing great. The only thing that has been hard for them is the adjustment to the Thai food. Basically, they won’t eat the food that is prepared in the Thai style. Thankfully, with all meals they serve fresh fruit. So the boys have had fresh pineapple, bananas, watermelon and some really strange fruits that apparently only grow in Asia because I never saw them in South America. They have also eaten more American food like fried chicken strips, boiled eggs, beef stew, and cereal for breakfast for a couple of days. We have had pizza twice, eaten at McDonald’s once, and today we ate at Sizzler – a steak house that they have in the states. Of course the boys got chicken nuggets and French fries and they were very happy. Also, today Gillian and I bought two new backpacks for $13 each. Normally the backpacks would cost around $80 each in the states, but we got a good deal here.
Gillian and I are doing great. We are eating well, and drinking a lot of water. The weather is pretty hot and sticky. Think July in SC, only not as hot – just as sticky, but not as hot.
We are learning a lot about FHI’s ministry and having a biblical worldview. Our instructor for three of the days was Darrow Miller. He is the vice president of FHI. He has a real heart for the poor and some great training that has been growing our perspective of holistic, biblical ministry. God has called us to minister to the physical needs as well as the physical needs. One of the examples that stood out in my mind is about a government agriculture program in Africa that gave farmers resources that essentially tripled their crops and the money the brought in. The report that went back to the US govt. was that the program was a success because more money was made and the crops were successful. From FHI’s perspective the program was a failure. The reason why was that no biblical instruction or changes were made in the community, only money and agricultural instruction. What this resulted in was that 2 months after the crop success the farmers that had all this extra money didn’t have a godly perspective on the new wealth and blew it on alcohol and prostitutes. This is why the program was a failure, simply meeting physical needs, and providing agricultural training still leaves a void that only God can fill. Money by itself is never the solution to poverty. An entire change of mindset and worldview is necessary to empower people to come out of poverty,
Well, I am starting to get tired so I will see if I can get this e-mail sent and head to sleep.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
Justin
The boys are doing great. The only thing that has been hard for them is the adjustment to the Thai food. Basically, they won’t eat the food that is prepared in the Thai style. Thankfully, with all meals they serve fresh fruit. So the boys have had fresh pineapple, bananas, watermelon and some really strange fruits that apparently only grow in Asia because I never saw them in South America. They have also eaten more American food like fried chicken strips, boiled eggs, beef stew, and cereal for breakfast for a couple of days. We have had pizza twice, eaten at McDonald’s once, and today we ate at Sizzler – a steak house that they have in the states. Of course the boys got chicken nuggets and French fries and they were very happy. Also, today Gillian and I bought two new backpacks for $13 each. Normally the backpacks would cost around $80 each in the states, but we got a good deal here.
Gillian and I are doing great. We are eating well, and drinking a lot of water. The weather is pretty hot and sticky. Think July in SC, only not as hot – just as sticky, but not as hot.
We are learning a lot about FHI’s ministry and having a biblical worldview. Our instructor for three of the days was Darrow Miller. He is the vice president of FHI. He has a real heart for the poor and some great training that has been growing our perspective of holistic, biblical ministry. God has called us to minister to the physical needs as well as the physical needs. One of the examples that stood out in my mind is about a government agriculture program in Africa that gave farmers resources that essentially tripled their crops and the money the brought in. The report that went back to the US govt. was that the program was a success because more money was made and the crops were successful. From FHI’s perspective the program was a failure. The reason why was that no biblical instruction or changes were made in the community, only money and agricultural instruction. What this resulted in was that 2 months after the crop success the farmers that had all this extra money didn’t have a godly perspective on the new wealth and blew it on alcohol and prostitutes. This is why the program was a failure, simply meeting physical needs, and providing agricultural training still leaves a void that only God can fill. Money by itself is never the solution to poverty. An entire change of mindset and worldview is necessary to empower people to come out of poverty,
Well, I am starting to get tired so I will see if I can get this e-mail sent and head to sleep.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
Justin
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Getting Ready
We're getting ready to go to Thailand with a 2 and 3 year-old. The trip itinerary includes 3 days in Phoenix, AZ for an employment workshop, then on to Bangkok, Thailand, a short trip to Phuket, and then back to Bangkok. The key word here is "flexibility." With all the travel we have done to and from Minnesota and West Virginia, we are hopeful that our kids will be okay with all this new activity and shifting around. I think this is might be a girl-thing, but my head is constantly thinking up things about the trip. Today's thoughts went to activities for the boys on the planes (we have a couple of really long flights). Regular crayons and markers are a little risky in-flight, so I found Blue's Clue's notebooks with one big wipe-off crayon for each. I also bought some plastic canvas and big plastic sewing needles. Tonight I'll cut the canvas into shapes and tie the needles to them with thin yarn for a fun reusable sewing crafty thing too. Drop a few cars, books, and dinosaurs into the diaper bag and we have home-grown bag o' entertainment. We thought about a portable DVD player, but that's too expensive for just this one trip.
The shopping is now complete aside from last minute things that always pop up. We now each have a complete wardrobe to last a week in HOT and MUGGY weather, and we will have a washing machine available when those clothes reach their limit. When I'm done with this Blog I'm going to grab a piece of paper and start a packing list, so I can stop thinking about it and just keep a running list. I've been escaping into novels and our required Bible study over the last couple of weeks to quiet my thoughts. Our support has been at a plateau since May, so it's hard not to feel the weight of that coupled with getting ready to be overseas with toddlers. The stress has lifted remarkably, though, as I have found quiet time in my morning walks with church friends, books, dates with Justin, playing with the boys, and other things that help me live in the here and now.
The week after we returned from Minnesota was probably the most stressful week we've had yet. We drove 1200 miles on Saturday, July 18, got home at 3am, went to church on Sunday (twice), and went right into Monday with unpacking from the trip and getting things organized for a church-wide yard sale the following Saturday. At the end of that week Justin's parents both came down with heart trouble, yet the sale went on.
Justin's parents are okay and going through more testing, and the sale was a success bringing in about $800 total, but we were exhausted after that marathon week. That's when I began to realize that I was relying on my own strength again, and it is not sufficient for the task at hand. These last couple of weeks Justin and I have been taking it easy getting back in line with where we need to be spiritually to keep running this race. I think we're getting there. As we wrote the newsletter Justin started sharing some things he's been convicted of lately, and as I listened I heard my own heart speaking from his lips. We were in the same place. So God is working on us, as always. He's given us endurance thus far, and remarkable grace for our shortcomings. We'll be out of touch with home life for a short time while we're in Thailand, so my prayer is that my mind can stay where God has placed my body so that I can absorb the training to its fullest and stay safe in a foreign land.
I stand in awe of God and the amazing places He is taking us. I count my blessings daily as I look at my husband, children, and pictures of family and friends, and as I ponder this calling that God has placed on our lives. Little me, Big God, and great things.
In His Hands,
Gillian
The shopping is now complete aside from last minute things that always pop up. We now each have a complete wardrobe to last a week in HOT and MUGGY weather, and we will have a washing machine available when those clothes reach their limit. When I'm done with this Blog I'm going to grab a piece of paper and start a packing list, so I can stop thinking about it and just keep a running list. I've been escaping into novels and our required Bible study over the last couple of weeks to quiet my thoughts. Our support has been at a plateau since May, so it's hard not to feel the weight of that coupled with getting ready to be overseas with toddlers. The stress has lifted remarkably, though, as I have found quiet time in my morning walks with church friends, books, dates with Justin, playing with the boys, and other things that help me live in the here and now.
The week after we returned from Minnesota was probably the most stressful week we've had yet. We drove 1200 miles on Saturday, July 18, got home at 3am, went to church on Sunday (twice), and went right into Monday with unpacking from the trip and getting things organized for a church-wide yard sale the following Saturday. At the end of that week Justin's parents both came down with heart trouble, yet the sale went on.
Justin's parents are okay and going through more testing, and the sale was a success bringing in about $800 total, but we were exhausted after that marathon week. That's when I began to realize that I was relying on my own strength again, and it is not sufficient for the task at hand. These last couple of weeks Justin and I have been taking it easy getting back in line with where we need to be spiritually to keep running this race. I think we're getting there. As we wrote the newsletter Justin started sharing some things he's been convicted of lately, and as I listened I heard my own heart speaking from his lips. We were in the same place. So God is working on us, as always. He's given us endurance thus far, and remarkable grace for our shortcomings. We'll be out of touch with home life for a short time while we're in Thailand, so my prayer is that my mind can stay where God has placed my body so that I can absorb the training to its fullest and stay safe in a foreign land.
I stand in awe of God and the amazing places He is taking us. I count my blessings daily as I look at my husband, children, and pictures of family and friends, and as I ponder this calling that God has placed on our lives. Little me, Big God, and great things.
In His Hands,
Gillian
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Make New Friends...but Keep the Old
Our yard sale/car wash event was a great success, bringing in $750 total. God is SOOO Good. Thank you to all who donated items and time to this event. We appreciate you tremendously. The event almost didn't happen, and it COULDN'T have happened without all the people who gave so sacrificially. On Friday afternoon, as I was about to put out signs in the rain, Justin called and said his mother had gone into the hospital with chest pains and shortness of breath. "Justin, what do you want me to do? Should I continue with the sale, or should I drop everything and go to the hospital?" He said to keep working because she was stable and okay. He would call me if I was needed. So I paused for a moment in our church parking lot with signs in the back of the van and two cranky toddlers in car seats, wondering how I'm going to get everything done and overwhelmed with concern for my mother in-law. I called my friend about our situation and my stress, and she said, "Do you need me and my daughter to come help you put up signs?" I didn't answer. Asking for help is one of my weaknesses. "We'll be right over." She showed up and drove my van, kids and all, and I hopped out at each intersection with the signs. It would have taken twice as long without her.
We worked HARD that night getting things set up and priced. About 10 people who we have become close with over the last couple of years helped us pull this thing together. And at 10pm, when Justin (who had left the hospital after his mom was okay, and had been working with us for hours) looked up from his cell phone and said, "Dad has a blockage, I have to go to his house and be with him." My spirit sank. The doctor had called his father that night to say his stress test from last week exposed a blockage, and he will need to come in on Monday to plan what comes next.
Justin's parents, while shaken, are okay. And they told us to keep going with the sale. His parents even sold a washer and dryer to a nurse at the hospital for our yard sale! One friend watched our boys Friday night, another friend came to our house at 6:30am to stay with them until they woke up and then brought them to the church for us later, and then the same friend from the night before watched them again during the actual sale (she also happened to be the same friend who set up signs with me).
The men washed 14 cars, and we women sold about 2/3 of the "stuff" inside. One woman even put in some elbow grease at the car wash when things got a little busy.
To top things off, that night, our weary band attended our fellowship group at church for an ice cream social and game night. It was put on by two of the friends who worked the yard sale with us - they had not rested yet. At the event they surprised Justin and me with a special collection for us.
I sit here truly humbled and in awe of God's wonderful work after spending three weeks in Minnesota and seeing dear friends who I've known since high school, and become closer with in adulthood, and then coming home and putting on an event with friends we have come to know intimately in just the past few years. The hugest things about this weekend is that God has opened my eyes completely to what it means to live beyond yourself. It doesn't mean to just give to others (which is important), but it means working for Him and doing things that we really CANNOT do on our own in order to do GREAT things. He blessed this weekend through the teamwork of friends. I am utterly amazed and humbled by the sacrifices they made this weekend. We praise God for giving us this weekend of encouragement, and we will continue to work for Him by working toward the mission field just as faithfully as we can. Thank you.
Love,
Gillian
We worked HARD that night getting things set up and priced. About 10 people who we have become close with over the last couple of years helped us pull this thing together. And at 10pm, when Justin (who had left the hospital after his mom was okay, and had been working with us for hours) looked up from his cell phone and said, "Dad has a blockage, I have to go to his house and be with him." My spirit sank. The doctor had called his father that night to say his stress test from last week exposed a blockage, and he will need to come in on Monday to plan what comes next.
Justin's parents, while shaken, are okay. And they told us to keep going with the sale. His parents even sold a washer and dryer to a nurse at the hospital for our yard sale! One friend watched our boys Friday night, another friend came to our house at 6:30am to stay with them until they woke up and then brought them to the church for us later, and then the same friend from the night before watched them again during the actual sale (she also happened to be the same friend who set up signs with me).
The men washed 14 cars, and we women sold about 2/3 of the "stuff" inside. One woman even put in some elbow grease at the car wash when things got a little busy.
To top things off, that night, our weary band attended our fellowship group at church for an ice cream social and game night. It was put on by two of the friends who worked the yard sale with us - they had not rested yet. At the event they surprised Justin and me with a special collection for us.
I sit here truly humbled and in awe of God's wonderful work after spending three weeks in Minnesota and seeing dear friends who I've known since high school, and become closer with in adulthood, and then coming home and putting on an event with friends we have come to know intimately in just the past few years. The hugest things about this weekend is that God has opened my eyes completely to what it means to live beyond yourself. It doesn't mean to just give to others (which is important), but it means working for Him and doing things that we really CANNOT do on our own in order to do GREAT things. He blessed this weekend through the teamwork of friends. I am utterly amazed and humbled by the sacrifices they made this weekend. We praise God for giving us this weekend of encouragement, and we will continue to work for Him by working toward the mission field just as faithfully as we can. Thank you.
Love,
Gillian
Thursday, June 30, 2005
5 Years Together
Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. I'm in Minnesota with our two young boys, and Justin is in South Carolina working away, waiting for our return. Even though we're apart, we can still celebrate what God has done between us. Let me just say that I am so pleased with the man God has chosen for me. I couldn't ask for a better husband and father...he's not perfect, but he seeks God's direction and guidance in life, and I couldn't ask for more. We fit like puzzle pieces and make up for each other's weaknesses. I love him. That's the bottom line. I'll be honest, we've been through some challenges and some low points, but God has completely blessed our continued dedication to our relationship, and I can honestly say that Justin is my very best friend in the whole wide world...apart from God, of course :). I have chosen the Blog as the place to say this because I would tell the world if I could! I LOVE JUSTIN BRICKEY!!! And, just as the rings on our fingers represent, "with these hands, I give you my heart, and I crown it with my love."
Love in <><,
Miss Monson
Love in <><,
Miss Monson
Sunday, June 26, 2005
The Bachelor
Three weeks alone. Scary. Not really scary, just lonely. It is hard to go home from work to a house that is absolutely devoid of life. Normally, the moment I step through the door I hear, "Daddy's Home!!" and "Da-Dee!" and am greeted with hugs and kisses. For these three weeks it will be nothing but silence upon arrival. It is only for a little while. I will go get the fam in MN on July 8. What a glorious reunion that will be!
In the meantime I have a slew of house projects to do. Due to the madness which was last week nothing got done (I only had one full night at home after the MN whirlwind trip). Tuesday, we found out that my Aunt Mary needed double-bypass open heart surgery so I picked my sister, Jennifer, up after work and we hit the road for WV. We got there around midnight and had to get up at 3 to drive the hour to Charleston, WV where the surgery would be performed. the surgery went well, and as of Sunday she is out of the ICU, in her own room, talking and walking a little. We came back to SC on Wednesday afternoon. My dad, sister and I all had a great time riding back in the car together. It isn't very often that we get to be together without the interruptions of children. After that little trip the rest of the week seemed to disappear. Friday, I went to dinner with Dad and first thing Saturday I was able to do one of the worst things of all... buy new tires. Not only is it expensive, but Sears took FOREVER to put them on.
With the last week behind me I have this week to clean carpets, paint walls, and possibly replace the linoleum in a bathroom. On top of that I have to finish my Food for the Hungry homework that has to be done by Friday in order for us to be able to go to Thailand. The homework is the first priority. The house will get done.
Justin
In the meantime I have a slew of house projects to do. Due to the madness which was last week nothing got done (I only had one full night at home after the MN whirlwind trip). Tuesday, we found out that my Aunt Mary needed double-bypass open heart surgery so I picked my sister, Jennifer, up after work and we hit the road for WV. We got there around midnight and had to get up at 3 to drive the hour to Charleston, WV where the surgery would be performed. the surgery went well, and as of Sunday she is out of the ICU, in her own room, talking and walking a little. We came back to SC on Wednesday afternoon. My dad, sister and I all had a great time riding back in the car together. It isn't very often that we get to be together without the interruptions of children. After that little trip the rest of the week seemed to disappear. Friday, I went to dinner with Dad and first thing Saturday I was able to do one of the worst things of all... buy new tires. Not only is it expensive, but Sears took FOREVER to put them on.
With the last week behind me I have this week to clean carpets, paint walls, and possibly replace the linoleum in a bathroom. On top of that I have to finish my Food for the Hungry homework that has to be done by Friday in order for us to be able to go to Thailand. The homework is the first priority. The house will get done.
Justin
Thursday, June 23, 2005
On the Road - A LOT
Part of the reason why the June newsletter didn't make the stands was because we're in a major season of limbo and activity, and we're learning how to balance that. Consider it a lesson learned, and we won't leave you hanging again. Expect the June/July newsletter the first week in July. The month of May and first half of June were filled with house projects and planning for this summer away from home as well as preparations for Kids Kamp at our church. We had our newsletter just about ready on June 10 and were waiting on some approvals when the bottom dropped out in an already busy household. It had all started on Saturday, June 4 when Alex was wrestling with his cousin and hurt is ankle. The doc said if he was still limping in a couple of days we'd get some x-rays. Well, the limping stopped, came back for a day, then went away again. We thought he was fine...more on that later. In the mean time, Thursday, June 9 we brought our minivan in to have the transmission flushed and the thing fell apart in the guy's hands. PRAISE GOD it was covered with a small deductible, but things just kept coming. Tuesday of that week (Kids Kamp in full swing and still no van), Alex gets stepped on at Kids Kamp and reinjures his foot. His ankle's broken, but he only needs a splint when it bothers him (PRAISE GOD!), then we still don't have a minivan. Thursday of that week Justin's aunt Mary in West Virginia went into the hospital with heart trouble, so we were still going ahead with our trip to MN, but we knew our plans could change depending on her health. So Friday the transmission shop called, having had our van for 8 days, and it was the day before our 4am-1200 miles-in-one-day road trip, and they said it was not done yet. Justin showed up at their shop, and it was done in 45 minutes. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Anyway, God gave us so much peace in the midst of chaos, and we held it together until that last day when we needed our van, and we'd had enough. So that last day before the trip was a flurry of stress and prayer for peace. We went ahead with our trip, and God blessed our perseverence with great travel, and we made it all the way to Minnesota by 12:30am. Justin then flew back to SC as planned, and went up to West Virginia after he got word that Mary was having open-heart surgery. She's recovering well now. Thank God, truly.
Staying in Minnesota for three weeks without Justin is a bummer, but we're having a great time, and we talk with him daily. I'm constantly doing fun things with the boys and thinking, "I wish Justin could be here!" My family has been sufficiently spoiling my kids with Mickey Mouse pancakes, McDonald's, and constant activity, so they should have some great memories captured on film before the end of the trip. These are the things that will be hard to leave when we go on missions, but how much more special our trips home will be as a result.
So it was a crazy first half of June, and now we're into our travel season with a bang. We have a car wash/yard sale planned for July - check the June/July newsletter in a week for details. It should be a BIG event, so we hope to see everyone there! This time in MN is great b/c I have no other obligations than just hanging out with my boys and family and working on missions stuff. So send me some emails to say hello :). This missions thing is moving forward so fast. November is our next milestone (100% of monthly support raised to go to the field in January!), and God has been so faithful thus far, we have no reason to doubt Him on this one either. Just like the Minivan...God always delivers at His perfect time. For those in SC, I miss you!!!! To my stay at home mom friends, I'm checking the movie schedules for another outing at movie camp!! To my MN friends and family, let's make the most of this trip cuz I don't know when I'm comin' back! :). Thanks for reading all of this and praying for God's guidance in this rich time of our lives. Email us with ways to pray for your life as well.
Next trip: Thailand, August 9-September 2.
Love,
Gillian
Staying in Minnesota for three weeks without Justin is a bummer, but we're having a great time, and we talk with him daily. I'm constantly doing fun things with the boys and thinking, "I wish Justin could be here!" My family has been sufficiently spoiling my kids with Mickey Mouse pancakes, McDonald's, and constant activity, so they should have some great memories captured on film before the end of the trip. These are the things that will be hard to leave when we go on missions, but how much more special our trips home will be as a result.
So it was a crazy first half of June, and now we're into our travel season with a bang. We have a car wash/yard sale planned for July - check the June/July newsletter in a week for details. It should be a BIG event, so we hope to see everyone there! This time in MN is great b/c I have no other obligations than just hanging out with my boys and family and working on missions stuff. So send me some emails to say hello :). This missions thing is moving forward so fast. November is our next milestone (100% of monthly support raised to go to the field in January!), and God has been so faithful thus far, we have no reason to doubt Him on this one either. Just like the Minivan...God always delivers at His perfect time. For those in SC, I miss you!!!! To my stay at home mom friends, I'm checking the movie schedules for another outing at movie camp!! To my MN friends and family, let's make the most of this trip cuz I don't know when I'm comin' back! :). Thanks for reading all of this and praying for God's guidance in this rich time of our lives. Email us with ways to pray for your life as well.
Next trip: Thailand, August 9-September 2.
Love,
Gillian
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
God's Reminders
Sunday night I was reminded of what God has done in my life and of the burden that he has placed on my heart for Peru. Local churches sent a short-term missions team to the Dominican Republic on Memorial Day. Their desire is to see people come to know Jesus Christ as their saviour. The team consists of men and women ranging in age from the 70s to the recent HS graduate teens. They arranged to pratice their children's ministry program and lead worship at a local hispanic church in Lexington the night before their trip.
Gillian and I were asked to come and help with translation during the service. Gillian translated for the children's ministry and I translated the English speaking pastor's (from the missions team) message into Spanish. As we were on our way to the service doubts entered into my mind. It had been one year since I last taught a Sunday School lesson in Spanish or translated a service in real time. Would I be able to translate well? Would the Holy Spirit annoint me and the pastor to convey His message clearly to the church? How would it all work out? Well, God answered my questions positively. The translation was a success and the message was well received. The message was out of Judges 6 about God being able to do more with a few obedient believers than anyone can imagine.
This night gave me great encouragement. I reflect back on how I used to be cynical, rebellious and hard-headed and see how God has changed my heart. He took my Spanish training, something that in high school I would have never seen as important, and turned it into something that could be used for His glory. God gave me an amazing wife who also has a burden for ministry. Only through his miraculous provision was I able to escape from the chains of my sin and be changed to the person that I am today. God continually quells my fears and doubts and assures me that this is the path that he has put me and my family on.
God has blessed us with the opportunity and desire to serve him in Peru. He has given us skills that 6 years ago we would have never dreamed about using. God can do alot with us, all we have to do is have faith and be obedient to his word.
Gillian and I were asked to come and help with translation during the service. Gillian translated for the children's ministry and I translated the English speaking pastor's (from the missions team) message into Spanish. As we were on our way to the service doubts entered into my mind. It had been one year since I last taught a Sunday School lesson in Spanish or translated a service in real time. Would I be able to translate well? Would the Holy Spirit annoint me and the pastor to convey His message clearly to the church? How would it all work out? Well, God answered my questions positively. The translation was a success and the message was well received. The message was out of Judges 6 about God being able to do more with a few obedient believers than anyone can imagine.
This night gave me great encouragement. I reflect back on how I used to be cynical, rebellious and hard-headed and see how God has changed my heart. He took my Spanish training, something that in high school I would have never seen as important, and turned it into something that could be used for His glory. God gave me an amazing wife who also has a burden for ministry. Only through his miraculous provision was I able to escape from the chains of my sin and be changed to the person that I am today. God continually quells my fears and doubts and assures me that this is the path that he has put me and my family on.
God has blessed us with the opportunity and desire to serve him in Peru. He has given us skills that 6 years ago we would have never dreamed about using. God can do alot with us, all we have to do is have faith and be obedient to his word.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Life on the Plateau
Our monthly support is at 40%. We need to be at 100% by November to leave in January, and I find myself having to pray out the anxiousness brought on by waiting. About 10 years ago, when I was in high school, my mom was going through medical testing, and the waiting was wearing us out. It was so intense, in fact, that it inspired our senior pastor to write a series of sermons on "waiting" and what God can do during those times. Each week he'd end his sermon with an interesting question, and then he'd say, "and for the answer, you'll have to wait until next week." I wish I could remember those sermons now. We are in a definite season of waiting...but it's the busiest waiting I've ever encountered. First support rushed in, and now it's slowed. So we're working hard to put plans into action, mail out more letters, make some calls, set up some events, sell the house, sell our stuff, and get ourselves ready to go.
Yeah, this is a tough process, but I never question whether we're meant to go anymore, like I did 2 years ago in the beginning. Now it makes so much sense that I can honestly say I've only been this certain of four other things in my life 1. Marrying Justin, 2. Having Alex, 3. Having Nathan, 4. Finishing college...and now, 5. Serving in Peru with Food for the Hungry.
So why do I question the rate at which the support comes in? Because I like to have control, and I don't get to have it right now...Little Gillian, Big God. We praise God HUGE for the funds that have come in already b/c it's evidence that prayer is working, and we're now at the first milestone just in time to go through training in Thailand in August. It's hard not to get discouraged anyway because 40% means we're not done yet. It'd be easier if we could just work for a regular company to do our dream job in Peru, but this type of work just doesn't happen that way. In fact, I've come to realize what a faith-building element support raising is, and how critical it is for our training for the field. This is not just our dream job in Peru...we're leading a group of supporters who are now part of God's great work on the poverty issue in Peru. If we were just employees we'd never have the strength in our jobs as we will with all of our supporters back at home praying for us and the people we work with as well as funding the programs that will change the world one person at a time. All that to say - we made the first milestone to go to Thailand for training in August, WE WILL MAKE THE NEXT ONE...I'll just have to wait until then for God's answer.
God grant me the serenity....
Gillian
Yeah, this is a tough process, but I never question whether we're meant to go anymore, like I did 2 years ago in the beginning. Now it makes so much sense that I can honestly say I've only been this certain of four other things in my life 1. Marrying Justin, 2. Having Alex, 3. Having Nathan, 4. Finishing college...and now, 5. Serving in Peru with Food for the Hungry.
So why do I question the rate at which the support comes in? Because I like to have control, and I don't get to have it right now...Little Gillian, Big God. We praise God HUGE for the funds that have come in already b/c it's evidence that prayer is working, and we're now at the first milestone just in time to go through training in Thailand in August. It's hard not to get discouraged anyway because 40% means we're not done yet. It'd be easier if we could just work for a regular company to do our dream job in Peru, but this type of work just doesn't happen that way. In fact, I've come to realize what a faith-building element support raising is, and how critical it is for our training for the field. This is not just our dream job in Peru...we're leading a group of supporters who are now part of God's great work on the poverty issue in Peru. If we were just employees we'd never have the strength in our jobs as we will with all of our supporters back at home praying for us and the people we work with as well as funding the programs that will change the world one person at a time. All that to say - we made the first milestone to go to Thailand for training in August, WE WILL MAKE THE NEXT ONE...I'll just have to wait until then for God's answer.
God grant me the serenity....
Gillian
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Zion UMC - Blythewood, SC
Susan & Rev. Bob Vincent, Brian & Angie Cooper, and Us at Zion United Methodist Church in Blythewood, SC. We had a great time presenting to this church and fellowshipping with friends.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Wow, Ditto
I just read my last post and it says exactly what my heart feels again today -- BUSY, except, today I feel motivated...we have even more on our plates today than we did for the last post, but I feel excited about it. And clear about it. God has answered our prayers! I still have overwhelmed moments, but that's usually when I'm avoiding the work. One major thing that I realized was that I was avoiding all this work by watching tv. So we've disconnected cable. Yeah, no more regular tv. We've tried this once before by putting the tv in the attic, but that was just insane. This time we've just cancelled the channels, but we still have the VCR and DVD player for us to enjoy movies and whatnot. I've had some withdrawal so I picked up the Chronicles of Narnia again and I read a little when I need to relax. It's nice because, unlike with tv (unless you have cable on demand or whatever) I can close it and come back later without missing anything :). It also helps that summer is here (yes, temps in the 80's already), so the boys and I are spending more time outside.
Before I go, I just have to say what a relief it is to have our new website up and running. I am so excited about it! It's very basic right now, but Justin's busy scheming with another missionary computer guy who's headed to the field, and I think together they're coming up with some awesome stuff! I'm all about communication...I just wish more of our friends and family had websites or emailed more pictures. I love hearing the stories, but I love to SEE the events!! I want to know what's up! K, the boyz have invaded the office, so it's time to close before disaster strikes. God is doing great things in me right now, and I totally love this learning process...today :).
Before I go, I just have to say what a relief it is to have our new website up and running. I am so excited about it! It's very basic right now, but Justin's busy scheming with another missionary computer guy who's headed to the field, and I think together they're coming up with some awesome stuff! I'm all about communication...I just wish more of our friends and family had websites or emailed more pictures. I love hearing the stories, but I love to SEE the events!! I want to know what's up! K, the boyz have invaded the office, so it's time to close before disaster strikes. God is doing great things in me right now, and I totally love this learning process...today :).
Thursday, April 21, 2005
The Learning Curve
I'll have to admit I'm feeling a little overwhelmed this week, and I could sure use an extra dose of grace in my spirit. We’re starting to feel the ache of the good-byes as we get our house ready to sell. Our house is a big thing to give up...we bought it together when we were just 21 years old and about to be married. Both children were carried home here...took their first steps here, and this is the last place I saw my mom before she died. We have cursed this house I don't know how many times for the shoddy repair jobs the previous owners did, and now we realize that we too have had to fix it with little means and experience, and now we are working hard to spiff it up to sell it. It's just a thing, and the house won't miss us, but we will miss the house...the home. It's the first good-bye.
There's so much to do in selling the house, doing missions stuff, and living regular life, that sometimes I get stuck, and I just want to sit and do nothing (does that make sense)? Everything now is a learning process. I'm actually not very good at having to learn new things...I like being knowledgeable about things, but I don't like the work involved with learning (weird, I know, but that's how I am). So, I'm trying to dig in and tell myself to keep moving and working even when I want to stop and go back to where I know the essentials already...know what I mean? The learning curve will be so much bigger in Peru, so I’m thankful for the slow beginning so I can get used to being constantly learning again.
So I pray for serenity, and all that comes with the well-known prayer, “God grant me the serenity….” I am so excited for the winds of change, I pray to become a willing vessel in the process of making it happen. Mostly, I just plain need to get up and get to WORK, and I need God’s grace and discipline to get me moving.
Transparently Yours,
Gillian
There's so much to do in selling the house, doing missions stuff, and living regular life, that sometimes I get stuck, and I just want to sit and do nothing (does that make sense)? Everything now is a learning process. I'm actually not very good at having to learn new things...I like being knowledgeable about things, but I don't like the work involved with learning (weird, I know, but that's how I am). So, I'm trying to dig in and tell myself to keep moving and working even when I want to stop and go back to where I know the essentials already...know what I mean? The learning curve will be so much bigger in Peru, so I’m thankful for the slow beginning so I can get used to being constantly learning again.
So I pray for serenity, and all that comes with the well-known prayer, “God grant me the serenity….” I am so excited for the winds of change, I pray to become a willing vessel in the process of making it happen. Mostly, I just plain need to get up and get to WORK, and I need God’s grace and discipline to get me moving.
Transparently Yours,
Gillian
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Another Great Week!!
This past week and weekend have been great. God has really blessed our time as a family. Alex and Nathan have been playing like brothers. They will give each other big hugs and then see who can knock the other down. It is a great competition to watch. We are debating starting the process of potty training with Nathan. He seems interested, but we will have to make the determination if he is really ready.
On Saturday, we went to see my nephew Cameron play baseball. Later that day we all went bowling to celebrate my his sixth birthday. Even Nathan was able to get into the action with a little help from the bowling alley ramps. After bowling we all went to Monterrey's Mexican restaurant for dinner. It was good to be out with family. We haven't all been out to dinner in a long time. With 5 little boys it can be alot of work but it was still enjoyable. Gillian and I are trying to make the most of our time with family since we won't be with them once we go to Peru. It is hard to find time to just relax with family sometimes. There are alot of things that have to be done before we go - spiff up the house, sell the house, sell the cars, raise support, continue working full-time and participate in the ministries we are involved in. With any luck by the end of the summer the big tasks will be over.
On Sunday, we went to my former pastor's church, Sandy Bay PHC in Kingstree, SC. We were invited to share with the congregation what God was doing in our lives and let them know about our needs before we go to Peru. We were a little nervous to start, but after we arrived at the church we felt right at home. It was really good to share with others the burden that is on our hearts for the poor in Peru. I hope that they are able to share in our burden. After the service we all went out to Brown's BBQ in Kingstree. All I can say is YUM! We had a good time of fellowship with everyone. I thank God, and the Sandy Bay PHC for the blessings we received from our visit.
As of Tuesday, our total outbound budget is at 10%. This is the percentage of the overall money that FHI needs to be in our budget line before we can go to the field. Our monthly pledges are at 37%. The great thing is that as the monthly pledges come in they will go directly toward the overall outbound budget. The monthly pledges are the most important because they will go towards the outbound budget until we leave.
Well, my lunch hour is almost up so I will go. I found a peruvian Christian radio station on the Internet. I like to listen so I can keep my ears trained to process the Spanish as I hear it.
Hasta luego!
On Saturday, we went to see my nephew Cameron play baseball. Later that day we all went bowling to celebrate my his sixth birthday. Even Nathan was able to get into the action with a little help from the bowling alley ramps. After bowling we all went to Monterrey's Mexican restaurant for dinner. It was good to be out with family. We haven't all been out to dinner in a long time. With 5 little boys it can be alot of work but it was still enjoyable. Gillian and I are trying to make the most of our time with family since we won't be with them once we go to Peru. It is hard to find time to just relax with family sometimes. There are alot of things that have to be done before we go - spiff up the house, sell the house, sell the cars, raise support, continue working full-time and participate in the ministries we are involved in. With any luck by the end of the summer the big tasks will be over.
On Sunday, we went to my former pastor's church, Sandy Bay PHC in Kingstree, SC. We were invited to share with the congregation what God was doing in our lives and let them know about our needs before we go to Peru. We were a little nervous to start, but after we arrived at the church we felt right at home. It was really good to share with others the burden that is on our hearts for the poor in Peru. I hope that they are able to share in our burden. After the service we all went out to Brown's BBQ in Kingstree. All I can say is YUM! We had a good time of fellowship with everyone. I thank God, and the Sandy Bay PHC for the blessings we received from our visit.
As of Tuesday, our total outbound budget is at 10%. This is the percentage of the overall money that FHI needs to be in our budget line before we can go to the field. Our monthly pledges are at 37%. The great thing is that as the monthly pledges come in they will go directly toward the overall outbound budget. The monthly pledges are the most important because they will go towards the outbound budget until we leave.
Well, my lunch hour is almost up so I will go. I found a peruvian Christian radio station on the Internet. I like to listen so I can keep my ears trained to process the Spanish as I hear it.
Hasta luego!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Spring is in the air... literally
Well, Spring has finally arrived in SC. The temperatures are in the low 80s and the air is filled with yellow pollen. The pollen is the true sign of Spring. It is quickly followed by sounds of sneezes, snotty noses, and the sight red bloodshot eyes. Spring in the South, you can't beat it!
We had our first "Care Team" meeting last week. This is the group of people who want to be a part of our inner circle as we go on missions to Peru. They will be the people we contact first with prayer and physical needs as we prepare to leave and once we are on the field. Our first meeting was very productive. Gillian and I shared with them the things that we have coming up in our lives in order to be ready to go next January. The most pressing thing on our minds are getting our housed fixed up and sold and the second thing is raising support. We had a good time of fellowship, prayer and discussion and we received a lot of good ideas. We were really encouraged by the meeting.
Over the last week we have been in contact with some of the staff in Peru. We have been discussing housing options, churches, shopping and more. It is really encouraging to talk with people that are already on the field. I know nothing can really prepare us for the change that is about to take place in our lives, but it is nice to try to conceive our new home.
I am writing on my lunch hour and it is about up so let me post some of the highlights of the last couple of weeks.
We had our first "Care Team" meeting last week. This is the group of people who want to be a part of our inner circle as we go on missions to Peru. They will be the people we contact first with prayer and physical needs as we prepare to leave and once we are on the field. Our first meeting was very productive. Gillian and I shared with them the things that we have coming up in our lives in order to be ready to go next January. The most pressing thing on our minds are getting our housed fixed up and sold and the second thing is raising support. We had a good time of fellowship, prayer and discussion and we received a lot of good ideas. We were really encouraged by the meeting.
Over the last week we have been in contact with some of the staff in Peru. We have been discussing housing options, churches, shopping and more. It is really encouraging to talk with people that are already on the field. I know nothing can really prepare us for the change that is about to take place in our lives, but it is nice to try to conceive our new home.
I am writing on my lunch hour and it is about up so let me post some of the highlights of the last couple of weeks.
- Alex is potty trained
- Nathan has begun to try to say some words, finally (Still hard to understand, but we know what he is trying for)
- Our monthly pledges are at 35% of where they need to be by January. This is encouraging.
- We have 6.9% of our outbound budget raised. We have to be at around 23% by July in order to go to training in August and we have to have 100% before we leave for Peru in January. We are praying that God will introduce us to people who have a desire to support this work.
- We received an invitation to speak at my former pastor's church in Kingstree, SC this Sunday, April 10.
We are encouraged by the things that have happened and we are hopeful for the things that will happen in the coming weeks.
Justin
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Visions of Peru
This morning we had to postpone our first Care Team meeting. Thankfully, next Tuesday is relatively open on the calendar, so we'll try again next week.
My head is busy today with thoughts of Peru. Last night Justin and I talked over what the adjustment to living in a new country will be like. Justin shared that he anticipates major stress for the first several months, and that we will need an extra dose of patience. I Amen'ed his thoughts. We talked about how we'll have to re-learn how to move around town with the boys in tow. Public transportation doesn't really accomodate strollers in Peru. Thankfully, we'll be in language school for the first three months, and our ONLY responsibility will be to learn the language and get settled into our new surroundings. Before bed last night we watched the video from my trip to Bolivia last summer, and today I feel alive for the field. A staff missionary in Peru emailed us about our apartment preferences today, and that made me feel down right giddy. Justin responded that we want a 5-bedroom apartment overlooking the ocean...okay, we'll take a three bedroom apartment with an open floor plan in the livingroom and kitchen for ministry and fellowship.
On a logistical side, we were talking out our plan for our stuff...BIG stuff like cars and house. We're probably going to sell our minivan either mid summer or early fall, and we'll have to put the house on the market this fall to have it sold by the time we leave. That means...a BUSY SUMMER. Our boyz and I are going to Minnesota for three weeks in June/July, and then the fours of us are going to Thailand for three weeks in August for training with Food for the Hungry. Justin plans to get some major house projects done while the boys and I are away in Minnesota so we can have the big stuff done before training.
We're also still praying over our furniture...to sell or store, that is the question. There is a lot to think about and time flies so fast. We are trusting in the utter peace that only comes from God, and the order from chaos that He provides. K, I must go do some missions stuff :).
Peace,
Gillian
My head is busy today with thoughts of Peru. Last night Justin and I talked over what the adjustment to living in a new country will be like. Justin shared that he anticipates major stress for the first several months, and that we will need an extra dose of patience. I Amen'ed his thoughts. We talked about how we'll have to re-learn how to move around town with the boys in tow. Public transportation doesn't really accomodate strollers in Peru. Thankfully, we'll be in language school for the first three months, and our ONLY responsibility will be to learn the language and get settled into our new surroundings. Before bed last night we watched the video from my trip to Bolivia last summer, and today I feel alive for the field. A staff missionary in Peru emailed us about our apartment preferences today, and that made me feel down right giddy. Justin responded that we want a 5-bedroom apartment overlooking the ocean...okay, we'll take a three bedroom apartment with an open floor plan in the livingroom and kitchen for ministry and fellowship.
On a logistical side, we were talking out our plan for our stuff...BIG stuff like cars and house. We're probably going to sell our minivan either mid summer or early fall, and we'll have to put the house on the market this fall to have it sold by the time we leave. That means...a BUSY SUMMER. Our boyz and I are going to Minnesota for three weeks in June/July, and then the fours of us are going to Thailand for three weeks in August for training with Food for the Hungry. Justin plans to get some major house projects done while the boys and I are away in Minnesota so we can have the big stuff done before training.
We're also still praying over our furniture...to sell or store, that is the question. There is a lot to think about and time flies so fast. We are trusting in the utter peace that only comes from God, and the order from chaos that He provides. K, I must go do some missions stuff :).
Peace,
Gillian
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Laundry Day.
Laundry Day. Why do I dread doing laundry so much? I watched women in Bolivia use amazing strength scrubbing their clothes between their wrists, dunking, whooshing, lifting, scrubbing, dunking, whooshing, lifting, scrubbing...again and again in an effort to clean their family's clothes. Then they hang the clothes out to line dry...no need to fold. They're wearing the only other load of clothes to be washed. This load that's hanging out to dry will go right on their backs. Yet I dread laundry with my two efficient machines and sufficient clothes for an outfit per day and then some. I dread laundry, except today. I haven't finished the laundry (thank God there isn't a load mildewing in the washing machine), but for the last half hour or so our wonderfully imaginative boys have been playing in the little hangers. And without a sufficient supply of clothes and modern conveniences, I would not have a basket of hangers for my boys. We hang our boys' clothes to avoid the chaos that drawers create with small clothes. In turn we have two little guys who LOVE the hanger basket for different reasons. Nathan gets lost in himself as he methodically empties the basket one fistful of hangers at a time. He explores the empty basket, examines the spewed out former contents around him, then equally methodically tries to return the hangers to the basket. They never all make it back in...nor do the ones that were returned ever stay there for long. Alex, on the other hand, in a sea of like hangers will come up with just the right one and exclaim, "Mommy, I found my hanger!" I wonder if it's really the same hanger as last time. Does it have a special groove or nick that only the discerning 3 year-old could find? That's right...he's three. How did that happen? He's gone from the emptying basket stage to the ownership of one special hanger stage as fast as everyone said time would travel - in the blink of an eye. Today laundry is not so bad. The clean up will be an inconvenience, but I am so grateful for the clothes that overflow our drawers, closets, and hampers, and for the lovely hands that make the mess. I can handle the inconvenience as we wait for Justin's grand entrance from a day at the office. Soon I will hear "Daddy's home!" and Alex will scramble out of my lap (yes, he's now in my lap playing with office supplies as I type). Yet I dread laundry. God is so good. It's when I have moments like these that I feel the urgency to get to the mission field - not so I can provide Peru with washing machines for all, but so I can be part of an organization that will help bring clean water, so that washing clothes will really WASH the clothes. And maybe one day, they too, will have a life that's not so hard, and they can watch their kids play with hangers - hangers that hold enough clothes for the week.
Praise be to God.
Gillian
Praise be to God.
Gillian
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Missions Service and Giving Update
Two weeks ago we sent out our first support letter. Responses have begun to arrive, and we are so thankful for the support. The personal notes have been sweet and encouraging. Thank you so much for supporting us so fully and generously! In my last entry I mentioned that we were working on a missions service for our church, well, Justin went with God's leading and used a personally meaningful scripture to guide our missions service, and we prayerfully delivered it on Sunday night.
We were a weary family that night recovering from the flu. I was so nervous! I felt like "little us" and "Big God." Did I look as feverish as I felt? Would my voice hold out? During praise and worship I felt the hand of God, and He really showed up. Justin delivered our story well, and with heart. I was impressed with how well he knows me and was able to retell our years of seeking God's guidance in this decision. I shared the "asking" portion of the service...the part where we ask our church to come with us in commitment to the ministry in Peru. I have no idea what I said, or how it came off, but God was awesome. We are so humbled by the number of people who have signed up to be part of our Care Team here at home...they will be our core of prayer support through this process...there's always room for more :)! God also called many to give that night, it's incredible.
On Monday we received notice that our costs for training have increased, so these totals will reflect those changes:
Need: $37,000 for Outbound Budget; $3100 for Monthly Budget
Raised: $2,410 One Time Gifts; $865 Monthly Commitments = TOTAL RAISED $3,275.00
(All monthly gifts collected before departure will go to our outbound expenses, and if the $3100 starts flowing now, we will have our entire outbound budget raised by our target date of January 2006).
This is a true gift to have come so far so fast, because we need $7,000 by March 1st to go to training in Guatemala in April. If we miss this deadline we will be going to training in Thailand in August.
Praise God for being half way to our first goal! Thank you to our incredible Support Team that just keeps growing and growing. If you have more questions for us, please feel free to give us a call! We'll be happy to chat things over.
CARE TEAM! I'm planning our first meeting for either the end of February or the first week in March...I'll be in touch!
I am so excited about this ministry and the way it's growing here in the US...can you imagine what God's going to do in Peru!!
Much Love to All of YOU!
In <><,
Gillian
We were a weary family that night recovering from the flu. I was so nervous! I felt like "little us" and "Big God." Did I look as feverish as I felt? Would my voice hold out? During praise and worship I felt the hand of God, and He really showed up. Justin delivered our story well, and with heart. I was impressed with how well he knows me and was able to retell our years of seeking God's guidance in this decision. I shared the "asking" portion of the service...the part where we ask our church to come with us in commitment to the ministry in Peru. I have no idea what I said, or how it came off, but God was awesome. We are so humbled by the number of people who have signed up to be part of our Care Team here at home...they will be our core of prayer support through this process...there's always room for more :)! God also called many to give that night, it's incredible.
On Monday we received notice that our costs for training have increased, so these totals will reflect those changes:
Need: $37,000 for Outbound Budget; $3100 for Monthly Budget
Raised: $2,410 One Time Gifts; $865 Monthly Commitments = TOTAL RAISED $3,275.00
(All monthly gifts collected before departure will go to our outbound expenses, and if the $3100 starts flowing now, we will have our entire outbound budget raised by our target date of January 2006).
This is a true gift to have come so far so fast, because we need $7,000 by March 1st to go to training in Guatemala in April. If we miss this deadline we will be going to training in Thailand in August.
Praise God for being half way to our first goal! Thank you to our incredible Support Team that just keeps growing and growing. If you have more questions for us, please feel free to give us a call! We'll be happy to chat things over.
CARE TEAM! I'm planning our first meeting for either the end of February or the first week in March...I'll be in touch!
I am so excited about this ministry and the way it's growing here in the US...can you imagine what God's going to do in Peru!!
Much Love to All of YOU!
In <><,
Gillian
The Flu
Man, last week feels like a year of our life! Sunday morning Nathan woke up with a fever and misery, so I stayed home from church with him. He stayed miserable for a day or two. Justin and I planned to have every night last week to work on our missions service for church scheduled for the following Sunday. Monday night we got a running start on it, and Nathan was well on the mend. We sat and talked through a rough outline...but then Tuesday hit. I was totally wiped out with a fever of 102.3. Wednesday morning Alex woke up with a fever, so Justin went to work late allowing me an added couple hours of sleep, and Alex a little extra TLC. By Wednesday afternoon it was obvious that Alex needed to be seen by the doctor, so I dragged our rugged feverish crowd to the pediatrician. He looked at all of us (including me because I was in pretty rough shape), and sent us home with Flu as the official diagnosis and a prescription for sleep and fluids. On the way home I was pulling into our neighborhood and I heard my sleeping Alex make a horrible sound. I turned around and he was gazing off into space. I shook his foot, tried to wake him up, but his eyes rolled back into his head, and he stayed drooling....AHHH!! I called Justin and told him to "come home because I can't wake Alex up." I yanked the car in the driveway and called 911. Justin got home just as the first responders arrived...Alex stayed "altered" until the ambulance got him to the hospital. This was our first experience with a Febrile Seizure (a seizure brought on by a spike in his fever). SOOOO SCARY. Alex received fluids, a chest x-ray, antibiotics, and some blood work before they released us around 11pm. (Justin's parents took care of Nathan for us).
So where does that leave us with missions??? It left our heads spinning. I was sick as a DAWG, and miserably sleep deprived. Justin was juggling our needs and work, and keeping things together. Yes, we were shaken...shaken to our knees in prayer. Our little band began to mend...SLOWLY...but surely. On Friday night Justin and I put together an outline for our missions service, but we went to bed unhappy with the work we'd done...it was too sterile, it was lacking our hearts and God's guidance. Saturday morning we scrapped what we had and started over with a different approach. What scripture has God used to open our eyes to His will? In searching out the answer, Justin opened a book called God's Little Instruction Book and found a quote, not for the service, but for us, "All sunshine makes a desert. James 1:2-3 says: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." We haven't touched this book in years, and yet here in the midst of adversity, God leads us to Himself through it.
So we ended the week stronger than we'd started. Praise God for His comfort in times of hardship.
Mending in Him,
Gillian
So where does that leave us with missions??? It left our heads spinning. I was sick as a DAWG, and miserably sleep deprived. Justin was juggling our needs and work, and keeping things together. Yes, we were shaken...shaken to our knees in prayer. Our little band began to mend...SLOWLY...but surely. On Friday night Justin and I put together an outline for our missions service, but we went to bed unhappy with the work we'd done...it was too sterile, it was lacking our hearts and God's guidance. Saturday morning we scrapped what we had and started over with a different approach. What scripture has God used to open our eyes to His will? In searching out the answer, Justin opened a book called God's Little Instruction Book and found a quote, not for the service, but for us, "All sunshine makes a desert. James 1:2-3 says: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." We haven't touched this book in years, and yet here in the midst of adversity, God leads us to Himself through it.
So we ended the week stronger than we'd started. Praise God for His comfort in times of hardship.
Mending in Him,
Gillian
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Relationships Abound, and Ways To Join the Ministry
We have been SOOO humbled by this process of support raising, and it's only just beginning. I've seen missionaries at the front of our church telling about their call from God, but I never knew how much vision was behind it until now. My cup runneth over with visions of our new home in Peru (simple and creative home decor :), our CHILDREN and their upcoming multi-cultural and service exposure, the changes happening in us, the people who are helping us get there (THANK YOU!), the people we're going to meet and minister to and with both here in the US and there in Peru...WOW!
Not only are old relationships getting renewed through this experience; we're also making new amazing connections...First my grandpa hooked us up with family friends who were once missionaries in Peru and are now here in the states with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They even knew my mom as a young girl! What a treasure. Then Justin looked up a guy he knew in high school and was raised in Peru to the age of 14. We're now in touch with him AND his parents, so we'll get both a parent AND child perspective raising children in missions. We're thankful for these new relationships, and for YOU!
For the last several weeks we've been drafting our support letter. The weight of this letter is so great. It took several drafts and revisions because words on paper just never seem adequate to relate the depth of our care for you and for this call that God has placed on our lives. We want to take all of you with us, but I just don't think you'd fit in our suitcases! So many of you have asked how you can help, and we are so excited to work with you. Here are a few things this ministry needs right now:
#1: Pray for all involved. When we leave for Peru, we're taking our whole support team with us in spirit!
* Pray as people decide if now is the time to support international relief work and missions. Pray as they decide their level of involvement and ability to give.
* Pray for us as we seek to grow and nurture these relationships
* Give God praises for this awesome opportunity to get to know everyone even better.
* Pray as we prepare our missions service at church on February 13
#2: Join our CARE TEAM!! We need an official group of people committed to caring for our personal and spiritual needs both now and on the field. This includes, but is not limited to:
* Connecting us with people and churches who want an opportunity to be part of intn'l missions by joining our support team and want to hear more from us. (Food for the Hungry is a not affiliated with a denomination)
* Donating time to stuff envelopes, fundraisers, packing, etc.
* Keeping us in your prayers, sending encouragement, and keeping us updated on YOUR lives.
If you think of more for this ministry LET US KNOW!! The minute you make a decision to be involved it becomes your ministry too.
Love in <><,
Gillian
Not only are old relationships getting renewed through this experience; we're also making new amazing connections...First my grandpa hooked us up with family friends who were once missionaries in Peru and are now here in the states with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They even knew my mom as a young girl! What a treasure. Then Justin looked up a guy he knew in high school and was raised in Peru to the age of 14. We're now in touch with him AND his parents, so we'll get both a parent AND child perspective raising children in missions. We're thankful for these new relationships, and for YOU!
For the last several weeks we've been drafting our support letter. The weight of this letter is so great. It took several drafts and revisions because words on paper just never seem adequate to relate the depth of our care for you and for this call that God has placed on our lives. We want to take all of you with us, but I just don't think you'd fit in our suitcases! So many of you have asked how you can help, and we are so excited to work with you. Here are a few things this ministry needs right now:
#1: Pray for all involved. When we leave for Peru, we're taking our whole support team with us in spirit!
* Pray as people decide if now is the time to support international relief work and missions. Pray as they decide their level of involvement and ability to give.
* Pray for us as we seek to grow and nurture these relationships
* Give God praises for this awesome opportunity to get to know everyone even better.
* Pray as we prepare our missions service at church on February 13
#2: Join our CARE TEAM!! We need an official group of people committed to caring for our personal and spiritual needs both now and on the field. This includes, but is not limited to:
* Connecting us with people and churches who want an opportunity to be part of intn'l missions by joining our support team and want to hear more from us. (Food for the Hungry is a not affiliated with a denomination)
* Donating time to stuff envelopes, fundraisers, packing, etc.
* Keeping us in your prayers, sending encouragement, and keeping us updated on YOUR lives.
If you think of more for this ministry LET US KNOW!! The minute you make a decision to be involved it becomes your ministry too.
Love in <><,
Gillian
Monday, January 24, 2005
Overhaul to the Brickey Abode
So we're trying to get things organized for the great tasks ahead. We have finally started setting up our office. It was once a nursery, then a guest room, and then a dumping ground. For so long we dubbed the office "THE ROOM," dun dun DUN! If it was in "The Room," consider it lost until the next overhaul. Instead of just throwing all the files back into the file cabinet (a great temptation at this point), we're trying to go through them and throw out what's not needed. AGH! If LIFE WOULD JUST PAUSE FOR A MOMENT, then this all might seem possible! Now NOTHING has a home, and it's all in boxes in the new "Office." K, so we're making minute progress every day, so I shouldn't exaggerate too much. I'm really excited for how cleaned out our material lives will be by the time we leave (advice: move every few years to keep the clutter down), but the process is a little messy. I humbly admit that this job of cleaning out the office would have been done long ago had I actually felt motivated to do so. As it once was said, "Gillian, you are no domestic goddess." My next project is the attic and all the billions of baby clothes and boxes of memorabilia we have collected...maybe this is Freudian denial! I dread the attic more than the office, and am therefore using the office as a roadblock to the attic. Think it would fly in the psych ward in the institution for domesticity? Possibly. Okay, so I'm going to start working on the office. Pray for me. It ain't gonna' be pretty :).
Love,
Gillian
Love,
Gillian
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Raising Support, or Begging for Money?
Last summer, when I first realized that we had to raise support for my trip to Bolivia, I was sheepish. How do I ask people to send me on my own trip? God made a few things clear to me.
1. It wasn't "my own trip." I was going for the purpose of serving those people in Bolivia and helping to build a washroom facility.
2. There are people out there who want a chance to be involved in humanitarian ministry, and I was one opportunity for them to do that.
3. My friends and family love me and know my heart, and they want to see that God-given desire fulfilled.
So, last night I felt the old feelings of sheepishness rise up again as Justin and I drafted our first support letter, but God has reminded me of these lessons I learned last summer. This is a MUCH bigger trip. We have to give others the opportunity to be part of this ministry.
It's been a pleasure supporting a couple of missionary friends in prayer and support these past two years because they have been so great at communicating what's happening "over there." Justin and I will strive to follow their example and stay so connected with our supporters too, so they can see what their money and prayers are doing in Peru, and so we can stay involved in their lives in the States despite the distance.
Here are the numbers we're looking at:
$37,000 for outbound expenses like airfair, bumper salary, one-time set up costs etc.
$3100 for our monthly expenses like rent, utilities, transporation, food, clothing, schooling for the boys, etc.
Our first goal is $6100 by March 1 (part of the $37,000 outbound budget) to cover the cost of training in April. Yes, that's right, we're aiming to go to Guatemala in April for 3 weeks training as a whole family. Please pray for us as we seek to reach this first goal.
These are big numbers, but God has given us SO MUCH peace about it, it's amazing. My logical mind says that I should be floored, but I'm not. We actually were expecting a higher budget, so this is good! I must go and tend to da boyz. Much love to you, and thank you for keeping us in your prayers...you are certainly in ours!
Love in <><,
Gillian
PS. Please pray for other missionaries in this process of support raising as well. We know of one family in particular that is struggling with a sick child and many questions. Please pray for discernment each and every day through this process.
1. It wasn't "my own trip." I was going for the purpose of serving those people in Bolivia and helping to build a washroom facility.
2. There are people out there who want a chance to be involved in humanitarian ministry, and I was one opportunity for them to do that.
3. My friends and family love me and know my heart, and they want to see that God-given desire fulfilled.
So, last night I felt the old feelings of sheepishness rise up again as Justin and I drafted our first support letter, but God has reminded me of these lessons I learned last summer. This is a MUCH bigger trip. We have to give others the opportunity to be part of this ministry.
It's been a pleasure supporting a couple of missionary friends in prayer and support these past two years because they have been so great at communicating what's happening "over there." Justin and I will strive to follow their example and stay so connected with our supporters too, so they can see what their money and prayers are doing in Peru, and so we can stay involved in their lives in the States despite the distance.
Here are the numbers we're looking at:
$37,000 for outbound expenses like airfair, bumper salary, one-time set up costs etc.
$3100 for our monthly expenses like rent, utilities, transporation, food, clothing, schooling for the boys, etc.
Our first goal is $6100 by March 1 (part of the $37,000 outbound budget) to cover the cost of training in April. Yes, that's right, we're aiming to go to Guatemala in April for 3 weeks training as a whole family. Please pray for us as we seek to reach this first goal.
These are big numbers, but God has given us SO MUCH peace about it, it's amazing. My logical mind says that I should be floored, but I'm not. We actually were expecting a higher budget, so this is good! I must go and tend to da boyz. Much love to you, and thank you for keeping us in your prayers...you are certainly in ours!
Love in <><,
Gillian
PS. Please pray for other missionaries in this process of support raising as well. We know of one family in particular that is struggling with a sick child and many questions. Please pray for discernment each and every day through this process.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Budget
We now have our preliminary budget, and things look as expected. Justin and I have had such profound peace about the dollar amount. We know this process of support raising and missions itself is hard at times, but I look at it as one of those fulfillingly challenging experiences in our lives like being married and having children. The fulfillment far outweighs the challenges, even though the challenges are great at times. You know? We've had a slightly humorous hiccup today. In August we're scheduled to go to a three week training session with our children in Thailand. Justin was looking at airfare to and from when he realized a few things. Note that there is an earlier training session in Guatemala (Justin thought it was in Costa Rica), but we'd have to raise support in short order, and it's not as close to our departure date as Food for the Hungry would like. Here's the email he sent to our placement rep:
________
Lisa,
We were looking at flights to Bangkok and Costa Rica when loud bells went off in our heads. This happened first when we saw that getting to Costa Rica costs half as much as Thailand. This is NOT the thing that made us consider the earlier phase 2 [training]. The thing that did it was looking at a 16 hour flight form Atlanta to Bangkok with a 3 year old and a 2 year old. The next thing that sank in was the 12 hour time difference. Our jet lag is manageable, the day/night swap jet lag of a 2 and 3 year old is something to be taken seriously. The visual image that comes to mind is NOT pretty.
:) We have not heard back from our placement rep as of yet, but don't be surprised to hear that we're now going to Guatemala April. I just pray we can raise the funds to do so. It truly would make the training MUCH easier on the whole family.
Much Love,
Gillian
________
Lisa,
We were looking at flights to Bangkok and Costa Rica when loud bells went off in our heads. This happened first when we saw that getting to Costa Rica costs half as much as Thailand. This is NOT the thing that made us consider the earlier phase 2 [training]. The thing that did it was looking at a 16 hour flight form Atlanta to Bangkok with a 3 year old and a 2 year old. The next thing that sank in was the 12 hour time difference. Our jet lag is manageable, the day/night swap jet lag of a 2 and 3 year old is something to be taken seriously. The visual image that comes to mind is NOT pretty.
:) We have not heard back from our placement rep as of yet, but don't be surprised to hear that we're now going to Guatemala April. I just pray we can raise the funds to do so. It truly would make the training MUCH easier on the whole family.
Much Love,
Gillian
Thursday, January 06, 2005
The Countdown Begins
We have set up our office and are getting organized for support raising. We are very excited to see what the Lord is going to do in our lives through this process. A verse that has stuck in my head over the past two months is Psalm 37:4 - "Delight youself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart". Over the past year we have truly been delighting ourselves in him and he has given us the desire to humbly serve him. I have never felt more fulfilled in my life than now. It is great to have the hope of sharing God's love with our friends in Peru. Now that I think about it, you may want to look at a slideshow of my trip to Peru and Gillian's trip to Bolivia. Click on the links below.
Justin's trip to Peru - May 2003 (Only a few of the pictures)
Gillian's trip to Bolivia - July 2004 (I am still working on this one)
Justin's trip to Peru - May 2003 (Only a few of the pictures)
Gillian's trip to Bolivia - July 2004 (I am still working on this one)
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